Top 15 Players by Position- THIRD BASEMAN

[Omar 382]

I kind of forgot about this for a while. Third base is interesting. Let's see how it shakes out.

1. Mike Schmidt
2. Eddie Mathews
3. George Brett
4. Chipper Jones
5. Wade Boggs
6. Adrian Beltre
7. Scott Rolen
8. Ron Santo
9. Brooks Robinson
10. Buddy Bell
11. Frank Baker
12. Sal Bando
13. Darrell Evans
14. Jimmy Collins
15. Ron Cey

It was close for 15th between Cey and Bob Elliott. I gave it to Cey for a higher WAR, JAWS, WAR/7, base running and defense. Their hitting was nearly identical. I wondered if I would fit David Wright in, but alas, no luck (and no bias- but fuck him). Note that Edgar Martinez, Paul Molitor, Harmon Killebrew, and Miguel Cabrera all had more games played at other positions.

 

[navamind]

3-6 and 7-9 are really tough ones. I can't really argue with any order of Boggs/Brett/Beltre/Chipper. Robinson has about 2400 more PA and about 3 more WAA, but Santo's top 7 seasons are considerably better than Brooks' top 7. Of course, Brooks also has 14 seasons of 3.5+ WAR (admittedly arbitrary) while Santo has only 9. Rolen seems like the Larry Walker of 3rd basemen IMO. Great career stats and was an excellent player when healthy (43.9 WAA), but struggled to stay on the field for the full season. I do think Rolen should be in the HOF and he's easily a top 10 3B in my book, but I'd be shocked if he makes the HOF.

 

[The Q]

3-6 and 7-9 are really tough ones. I can't really argue with any order of Boggs/Brett/Beltre/Chipper. Robinson has about 2400 more PA and about 3 more WAA, but Santo's top 7 seasons are considerably better than Brooks' top 7. Of course, Brooks also has 14 seasons of 3.5+ WAR (admittedly arbitrary) while Santo has only 9. Rolen seems like the Larry Walker of 3rd basemen IMO. Great career stats and was an excellent player when healthy (43.9 WAA), but struggled to stay on the field for the full season. I do think Rolen should be in the HOF and he's easily a top 10 3B in my book, but I'd be shocked if he makes the HOF.

Yeah Rolen is a weird case.

I agree he was incredible. But he had those injury issues that just give him a weird feel that the writers will at least make him wait for bit for.

 

[NCChiFan]

Hmm, you forgot Kris Bryant.











> runs off and hides<

 

[navamind]

It'll be pretty interesting to see where Josh Donaldson ends up. He had a late start to his career (didn't become a full time starter until he was about 26.5 years old), but he's probably been the 2nd best player in baseball over that span behind Trout. Donaldson's posted 30+ WAR (22 WAA) over the last four years alone and currently sports a career 140 wRC+. He's looked like one of the better 3B over the last few decades. Still a lot of work to do, of course, and he turns 31 in December.

 

[Voltaire26]

I kind of forgot about this for a while. Third base is interesting. Let's see how it shakes out.

1. Mike Schmidt
2. Eddie Mathews
3. George Brett
4. Chipper Jones
5. Wade Boggs
6. Adrian Beltre
7. Scott Rolen
8. Ron Santo
9. Brooks Robinson
10. Buddy Bell
11. Frank Baker
12. Sal Bando
13. Darrell Evans
14. Jimmy Collins
15. Ron Cey

It was close for 15th between Cey and Bob Elliott. I gave it to Cey for a higher WAR, JAWS, WAR/7, base running and defense. Their hitting was nearly identical. I wondered if I would fit David Wright in, but alas, no luck (and no bias- but fuck him). Note that Edgar Martinez, Paul Molitor, Harmon Killebrew, and Miguel Cabrera all had more games played at other positions.

No love for Hall of Famer George Kell?

 

[The Q]

It'll be pretty interesting to see where Josh Donaldson ends up. He had a late start to his career (didn't become a full time starter until he was about 26.5 years old), but he's probably been the 2nd best player in baseball over that span behind Trout. Donaldson's posted 30+ WAR (22 WAA) over the last four years alone and currently sports a career 140 wRC+. He's looked like one of the better 3B over the last few decades. Still a lot of work to do, of course, and he turns 31 in December.

His late start is going to be interesting.

Guys with his background tend to collapse early.

Think: Phil Plantier.

 

[navamind]

His late start is going to be interesting.

Guys with his background tend to collapse early.

Think: Phil Plantier.

Not really getting the Plantier reference. He came into the majors at a much earlier age than Donaldson and he didn't have much MLB success. He had a nice little 53 game run with the Sox and a 122 OPS+ in '93 (which isn't that good for a corner OF), but that's about it. Donaldson's been playing at an MVP level for four seasons now, something that's almost unheard of from a late bloomer.

 

[Voltaire26]

I kind of forgot about this for a while. Third base is interesting. Let's see how it shakes out.

1. Mike Schmidt
2. Eddie Mathews
3. George Brett
4. Chipper Jones
5. Wade Boggs
6. Adrian Beltre
7. Scott Rolen
8. Ron Santo
9. Brooks Robinson
10. Buddy Bell
11. Frank Baker
12. Sal Bando
13. Darrell Evans
14. Jimmy Collins
15. Ron Cey

It was close for 15th between Cey and Bob Elliott. I gave it to Cey for a higher WAR, JAWS, WAR/7, base running and defense. Their hitting was nearly identical. I wondered if I would fit David Wright in, but alas, no luck (and no bias- but fuck him). Note that Edgar Martinez, Paul Molitor, Harmon Killebrew, and Miguel Cabrera all had more games played at other positions.

Is there a reason Pie Traynor was left off the list ... played 17 years for Pittsburgh and is a Hall of Famer.

Please add Pie Traynor and George Kell to your list.

 

[The Q]

Not really getting the Plantier reference. He came into the majors at a much earlier age than Donaldson and he didn't have much MLB success. He had a nice little 53 game run with the Sox and a 122 OPS+ in '93 (which isn't that good for a corner OF), but that's about it. Donaldson's been playing at an MVP level for four seasons now, something that's almost unheard of from a late bloomer.

Could've gone with Shane Spencer as well. Or Chris Singleton.

Guys who come up as late as Donaldson do tend to not have long peaks.

It's probably one of the main reasons Beane sold high on him. But Donaldson is proving to be quite the exception.

 

[The Q]

Am I the only one who finds it amusing that the guy nicknamed "Home Run" Baker has 96 career home runs?

 

[MilkSpiller22]

I am surprised Chipper ranks so low on this list... Again, I am only basing my surprise on the knowledge that Omar weighs offense so heavily...